Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 76

Stephanie

To say that Elena was put out that she wasn’t invited to Alpha Sloane’s birthday party would be an understatement. As if Sloane would have invited her after that stunt she pulled. My step-sister is piece of work. I can’t believe she tried to seduce Alpha Benedict. It was obvious that he was completely and utterly taken with Alpha Sloane. 2

Stupid girl.

Of course, my father wanted to see MY invitation to Sloane’s birthday party, but I’d told him that it was a verbal invitation, and she told me to show up. Elena, of course, thinks that I’ll be turned away. She probably would be, but I doubt that I will be. Sloane doesn’t strike me as that type of woman or Alpha. We’d all gotten along really well at Alpha Benedict’s party. Her friend Scarlet and Benedict’s sister Bethany were also much more enjoyable companions than the other viper-like Alpha females at the party who could do nothing but complain about Benedict’s poor taste in girlfriends, or talk about whether or not he was getting his ‘slumming’ out of his system before settling down with his fated mate once he found her.

Since Alpha Benedict doesn’t strike me as that kind of man, I’d gone looking for a quiet place to get away from the gossip and instead found Sloane, Scarlet, Daniel, and Bethany and made new friends. 1

Now, I’m on my way to Alpha Roman’s pack. Since I haven’t known Sloane very long, I wasn’t sure what to get her for a gift. But based on what I learned about her, she seems very no-nonsense. However, she does have long hair and as a woman with long hair, I thought some decorative pins to hold up her hair on nice occasions would be useful. Since she’s an Alpha, I’d found some rare green sapphires, ones that are closer to the color of her eyes and had them embedded in the hair pins. Sloane may not realize how precious the hair pins are, but I’m guessing Scarlet will.

When I arrive at the gate and give my name, I’m told that Alpha Sloane hasn’t given them my name.

“Is she here? She told me to just come. She may have forgotten to send word that I was coming.”

“She hasn’t arrived yet …” he begins as another car pulls up behind me. “Oh, wait, there she is. Give me a moment.”

He goes to the car behind me and a moment later, Scarlet jumps out of the car and rushes up to mine.

“You made it!” she says excitedly. “I’ve got her, Ray,” she tells the guard then gets in my car. “How are you? How was the drive? Thanks for coming!” she says in rapid succession.

I laugh. I thought maybe it was the alcohol talking when I’d spent time with her before, but apparently this is Scarlet’s personality all the time.

“I’m good. The drive was boring. And I wouldn’t miss it,” I say as she directs me to the packhouse. There’s something different about her, but I can’t quite tell what it is. “How are you?”

“Oh girl! You are in for some tea today! I can’t say anything but be very glad you didn’t miss this party!” she says, making me very curious. 1

“Do I at least get to know who the tea is about?”

“I can’t say anything, but all will be revealed and you will hear it here first!”

“I can’t wait.”

When I park, I get out and look over at where Sloane and Daniel are getting out of their car.

“Happy Birthday, Alpha,” I say.

“Thank you, Stephanie,” Sloane says, coming over to hug me.

The moment she steps close to me, I feel it. Sloane was a powerful Alpha before, but now. “What’s going on?” I ask as she pulls me into a hug. “Where did all this power come from?”

“Umm, so I have bit of news,” she says. She looks around quickly, then pulls me aside. I look at Scarlet who is silently clapping her hands. This must be the news.

“So, Uncle Roman will announce it to the pack later, but long story short, I am Alpha Waylon’s biological granddaughter from his son Derrick, my mother’s fated mate. My grandfather handed the pack over to me yesterday. I’m officially an Alpha of my own pack,” she says.

I’m pretty sure that my mouth drops open.

“You’re a female Alpha. A REAL female Alpha? Like the first one in history?” I ask.

“And I’m the first female Beta,” Scarlet says, rushing over excitedly. “I told you it was good tea!” (1

“Holy shit. When Scarlet said there was tea, I assumed it was that you and Benedict are mates.”

“Oh, we are,” she says.

“WHAT? On top of everything else, you’re mated to Benedict. Wait, how will that even work?” I ask.

“We still have to figure that out, but we have some ideas. Just, don’t say anything yet, okay. I mean, after today, the rumor mill will be flying I’m sure. I’m guessing Benedict already told his pack. He stopped there on the way here.”

“Wow… just… wow!” I don’t even know what else to say. “Are you happy?”

“I’m so happy. Terrified and nervous, if I’m being honest, but yeah, I’m happy. And Benedict is over the moon excited that we’re mates. I hope this won’t change things between us, though. I don’t have many friends, and I’d like to keep the ones I’ve got.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Are you kidding me? I’m getting some fucking popcorn so I can get a front row seat and watch you make history girlfriend!”

I hug my friend, just as Daniel announces that someone is coming down the lane.

“Is it Benedict?” Sloane asks.

“No.”

We walk back over to where our cars are parked.

“It’s Will! He’s the Alpha and friend I told you about,” Sloane says.

“Oh good! I was looking forward to meeting him. I’ve never met any of the southern Alphas,” I say.

I hug my friend, just as Daniel announces that someone is coming down the lane.

“Is it Benedict?” Sloane asks.

“No.”

We walk back over to where our cars are parked.

“It’s Will! He’s the Alpha and friend I told you about,” Sloane says.

“Oh good! I was looking forward to meeting him. I’ve never met any of the southern Alphas,” I say.

As the car gets closer, Ema stands up in my head. 3

‘Ema?’

She doesn’t answer me, but she pushes forward, focused entirely on the car headed our way.

My gaze clashes with pale blue eyes holding the same intensity that I’m feeling flowing through my body.

‘Ema?’ I ask her again.

I sense Sloane turn and look at me, but I can’t look away from those eyes. It’s like I’m trapped by his gaze, unable to look away.

“Scarlet, step back, honey,” I hear Sloane say as the car comes to a halt.

The moment he gets out of the car, Ema sighs. “Ah yes, the gift. That is why I’m here,” he says, chuckling.

He gets his own bag and the gift for Sloane before coming back to wrap his arm around me, kissing me again.

“I hope you don’t mind if I stay by your side all afternoon and evening,” he says.

“I’d be offended if you didn’t,” I say, as we walk inside. It seems the party has already started out back.

“I think you and I are going to get along just fine,” he says.

“I couldn’t agree more.”